The jury began deliberating at 12:30 yesterday in the third Cal Harris murder trial.
After a morning of legal arguments, Schoharie County Judge George Bartlett spent 45 minutes instructing the jury on how to proceed with deliberations. The jury was then excused to begin deliberating. While deliberating, the jurors are not allowed to leave the jury room. They are not allowed to have cell phones or any other electronic devices with them. During his charge to the jury, Bartlett explained legal terms such as circumstantial evidence, reasonable doubt and murder in the second-degree. Bartlett explained that in order to find Cal guilty of murder in the second-degree, the prosecution must have proved two elements: that Cal murdered Michele Harris and that he did so intentionally.
The jury requested to have Barbara Thayer’s testimony read back, along with portions of Tom Turner’s testimony, and a request to review photos of an area of blood spatter found in the Harris’ house. Jurors will hear Thayer’s and Turner’s testimonies read back today. They will reconvene at 9:15 a.m. to continue deliberating. Before the jury entered the courtroom first thing yesterday, both defense attorney Bruce Barket and Cal Harris apologized for Cal’s “outburst” Wednesday. Bartlett said he accepted their apologies.
